DCHS Soccer headed to Wichita in pursuit of State Championship

Red Demon Soccer is no “rags to riches” tale. But what a difference a year makes for this year’s senior class and team. Last October, the Red Demons lost a heartbreaker to Wichita North in the first round of the 6A State Soccer Tournament ending an undefeated season earlier than anyone dressed in red wanted or expected. It was the first home playoff loss in twenty post-season home games since 2015 when Saul Hernandez arrived at DCHS as the Head Soccer Coach.

A program accustomed to playing until the last possible day of the fall season had fallen one goal short of another shot at a third state championship ring.

Fast forward 365 days and you begin to understand the celebration Tuesday night at Memorial Stadium where the Red Demons dominated Lawrence Free State (4-0) and punched their well-deserved ticket to this weekend’s Final Four – hosted at the Stryker Complex in Wichita.

The post-game mood was as much relief as it was excitement. A game decided by halftime may have contributed to the subdued celebration, but there seemed to be an overwhelming sense from everyone that this team has unfinished business.

The 2022 version of Red Demon Soccer seems poised for more than just a weekend getaway to Wichita. The Red Demons enter Friday night’s semifinal contest against defending champions Olathe West (17-2-0) with a perfect 19-0-0 record. The two teams have met previously in the semifinals with the Owls defeating the Demons 1-nil in 2019. The other semifinal match features Topeka Washburn Rural (16-3-0) and Mill Valley (15-1-1).

Among the 19 victories this season for the Red Demons are wins over three different Final Four participants (Blue Valley SW – 5A, Newton – 5A, and Wichita Trinity 4-1A). The Red Demons have outscored opponents 106-5 heading into the final weekend of the season.

The first Final Four trip to Wichita in 2016 ended perfectly for the Red Demons – a 1-nil victory over Olathe East for the first Soccer State Championship in school history. The 2020 State Championship team also finished undefeated at 20-0, winning the title at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka. This year’s Final Four will be hosted back in Wichita, this time at Stryker Complex. The Red Demons are not unfamiliar with the complex as they played in the first ever indoor soccer game in KSHSAA history at Stryker versus Kapaun Mt. Carmel in 2020. Dodge City has played four times in Wichita this season, so the trip is a familiar one for the Red Demons.

Quote from DCHS Head Coach Saul Hernandez: “Going back to the Final Four was one of our goals ever since we were eliminated in the quarterfinals last year. The expectation in our program is to be playing in November and the boys earned that with all the hard work, sacrifices, and dedication they have shown since summer workouts and conditioning. Our main goal is always to win state and this year we have given ourselves the opportunity to reach that goal.”

“There are three other quality programs involved who all have great coaches. Winning championships is never easy. We are hoping for a partisan Dodge City crowd to make the short trip to Wichita because these last two games at Memorial Stadium we have really fed off that energy. Our home atmosphere definitely helps us play to the best of our abilities and a big crown in Wichita would certainly give us a better chance at winning the third state title in program history.”

6A State Soccer Tournament – Final Four
Friday – Semifinal Matches
5:00 pm – Dodge City vs Olathe West
7:00 pm – Washburn Rural vs Mill Valley

Saturday – Championship Matches
12:00 pm – 3rd Place Match
2:00 pm – State Championship Match

Live Streaming: NFHS Network
Radio: 98.1 – Voice of the Red Demons Derek Decker & Julio Martinez
Twitter: @RedDemonSports

Dodge City 1     Garden City 0

As they say in theatre, “You never know what to expect on Opening Night”!

Three weeks into the 2022 soccer season and the Red Demons had yet to play a home soccer match at Memorial Stadium. The Red Demons had already collected six wins and their eighth Titan Classic championship before Tuesday night’s opening act at home.

The Red Demons seemed to mount their offensive arsenal on the Buffs from the very first kick – a long ball that was carried by the wind just past a streaking Aron Martinez. The home team possessed the ball for much of the first half, but Garden City goalie, Aidan Parra, continued to turn back the Red Demons with several outstanding saves.

The deadlock was finally broken early in the second half when Aron Martinez launched a shot toward the goal that rebounded back to Ernesto Monge, who tapped it in for a one-nil lead that the Demons would not relinquish.

“We kept encouraging our guys to keep firing – and Ernesto did an outstanding job of not giving up on the play. Our guys don’t care who gets the credit, they are focused on doing their jobs and know good things happen when you continue to attack,” said Coach Saul Hernandez.

The Buffs would not go quietly on a night that seemed to be all about the home team. Another outstanding save by Parra on a penalty kick seemed to inject the visitors with new life and the final ten minutes were a flurry of action. A save by Francisco Solis in the final five minutes on the only solid scoring opportunity on the night by the Buffs preserved the Red Demon victory by the slimmest of margins.

Coach Hernandez said he was pleased overall with his team’s performance, but acknowledged it was good to get all of the festivities out of the way in the pursuit of bigger goals that await his team.

“Opening night is a myriad of emotions. We love our home crowd and atmosphere. It is like nowhere else we go – and our kids love playing at Memorial Stadium. It is also good to get past that first game at home and refocus on getting back to business as our schedule continues to get tougher in the second half of the season.“

With the victory, the Red Demons move to 7-0, and 3-0 in WAC play. Dodge City travels to Great Bend on Thursday to finish up the first half of the season and first round of WAC play. The next home action for the soccer program is Tuesday night as they step out of WAC play to take on Wichita Trinity, who defeated Great Bend at home last Saturday. Dodge City defeated Trinity last year by a score of two-nil in a well-played contest in Wichita.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has announced that eleven high school coaches from Kansas have been named National Coaches Association Sectional Coaches of the Year for the 2020-21 school seasons.

The NFHS is divided into eight geographical sections. Kansas is represented by Section 5 – Midwest which includes (Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota). The NFHS has been recognizing coaches through an awards program since 1982.

The sectional committee representatives evaluate the state award recipients from the states in their respective sections and select the best candidates for the sectional award in each sport category. The NFHS Coaches Association Advisory Committee then considers the sectional candidates in each sport, ranks them according to a point system, and determines a national winner for each of the 20 sport categories.

The sectional winners will now be put in consideration for National Coach of the Year, to be announced sometime in January.

We are so proud of Saul and our Red Demon Soccer program. Saul and his staff have consistently demonstrated for our student-athletes the value of hard work, preparation, and character both on and off the field. Coach Hernandez is certainly deserving of this award and would be the first to give credit to his family, coaching staff, and the many outstanding players that have been involved in our soccer program. We are very fortunate to have Saul and his family in Dodge City.”

Jay Gifford, District Athletic Director

It is an honor to be recognized by my peers and other coaches for this prestigious award. This would not be possible without my staff, players, family, administration, and our community. The goal of our program(s) will always be to better young men and young women through soccer and give them an opportunity to be successful in the future while representing the community in a positive manner. As a proud Dodge City native, I strive to do my best to represent the community and to continue improving for our youth in Dodge City.”

Saul Hernandez, DCHS Soccer Coach

The KSHSAA works with the Kansas Coaches Association (KCA) to nominate Kansas coaches. The KCA contacts their potential state award recipients to complete a “coach profile” form that requests information regarding the coach’s record, membership in and affiliation with coaching and other professional organizations, involvement with other school and community activities and programs, and coaching philosophy. To be approved as an NFCA award recipient and considered for sectional and national coach of the year, this profile form must be completed by the coach or designee and then approved by the executive director of the state athletic/activities association.

Coach Saul Hernandez Bio

• NFHS Sectional Coach of the Year (2020, 2016)
• NFHS State Coach of the Year (2020, 2016)
• NHSCA National Coach of the Year (2020)
• United Soccer Coaches Association Large School Regional Coach of the Year (2020)
• United Soccer Coaches Association Large School Kansas Coach of the Year (2020, 2016, 2015)
• Kansas Coaches Association (KCA) Coach of the Year (2020, 2015)
• Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (Boys – 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015)
• Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (Girls – 2017, 2016)
• KHSSCA 6A Coach of the Year (2020, 2016)
• Hutchinson News Regional Coach of the Year (2016, 2015)
• Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year (Alan Lopez – 2020, Miguel Baca – 2016
• Career Record at DCHS: Boys (127-14-1, [2] 6A State Titles); Girls (41-36-9)

NFHS Sectional Coaches of the Year (2020-21)

• Jesse Nelson (Girls Basketball) Olpe HS
• Lewis Wiebe (Boys Cross Country) Berean Academy HS
• Michael Spielman (Girls Cross Country) Baldwin HS
• Joel Applebee (Boys Football) Mill Valley HS
• James Ginter (Boys Golf) Wellington HS
• Kevin Ayers (Boys Football (8-Player)) Little River HS
• Kit Harris (Girls Wrestling) Baldwin HS
• Saul Hernandez (Boys Soccer) Dodge City HS
• Pam Burkett (Girls Spirit) Campus HS
• Andrew Gibbs (Girls Tennis) Shawnee Mission East HS
• Christopher McAfee (Boys Track & Field) Mill Valley HS

The Dodge City High School soccer program will host the first round of the 6A KSHSAA State Soccer Tournament on Tuesday at Memorial Stadium as they host Wichita North.

• The Red Demons (17-0-1) are the #2 seed in the West.
• Wichita North (16-1-1) is the #3 seed, with their only loss coming at the hands of Dodge City.
• The winner advances to the Final Four on Friday & Saturday in Olathe.
• The Red Demons are 19-0 in home playoff games in the Saul Hernandez era, and have won 7 straight Regional Titles. Dodge City is attempting to reach their 3rd straight Final Four.
• The combined record of the West half of the State bracket is a combined: 65-2-4.